Silken Tofu Pasta Sauce with Roasted Pink Pepper

This silken tofu pasta sauce blends up in simply 5 minutes with no chopping and no cooking! Utilizing pantry staples like jarred roasted purple peppers and dietary yeast, it’s a creamy, flavorful, barely smoky sauce that goes so nicely together with your favorite pasta or gnocchi.

I’m sensing a brand new theme rising in my weeknight cooking: vegan pasta sauces made within the blender. It began with my very craveable cashew alfredo sauce, which has been a household staple for years. 

However then I made my green pasta, and my vegan mac and cheese (also with silken tofu!) and now I understand that this simply may be one of many best methods to place a nutritious meal on the desk with minimal effort. Which might be why I find it irresistible a lot, as a result of I’m a really lazy weeknight cook dinner!

You simply boil your favorite pasta, whip the sauce up within the blender, and if want be, add an additional aspect of roasted veggies or double down on the protein by opening a can of some creamy white beans. Et voila! A balanced, comforting vegan dinner with out all of the fuss.

Silken tofu is an unimaginable ingredient: extremely easy and milder within the flavour than typical tofu, it may be used as an alternative to cream in plant-based recipes as a result of it blends like a DREAM.  It lends a creamy richness to any pasta sauce in addition to slightly enhance of protein. Which, as a plant-based dietitian, we must always most likely discuss as I’m seeing some deceptive data on blogs about simply how a lot protein silken tofu has.

FAQ: does silken tofu have plenty of protein? 

Silken tofu is an extremely easy kind of tofu that’s larger in water content material than typical agency or additional agency tofu, so it’s not as protein-dense. The native model I take advantage of, Sunrise, has about 4g of protein per ⅓ cup (85g). In case you have entry to agency or additional agency silken tofu at your retailer, that will increase protein a bit, about 6-7 grams. So it’s a pleasant enhance, however not plenty of protein on it’s personal.

I see plenty of blogs claiming that silken tofu pasta sauces are “excessive in protein” which is why you need to watch out with diet data on the web (that isn’t written by an precise dietitian!). I wouldn’t say that 6-7 grams is excessive. 20 grams of protein? That’s excessive!

And yep, when served with pasta, this silken tofu pasta sauce will web you a excessive protein meal, with out including further protein to this recipe. The mixture of this sauce plus two cups of cooked pasta will web you 21 grams of plant-based protein. I guess you didn’t understand that cooked pasta comprises a whopping 8.6 grams of protein per cup! And that’s earlier than you swap in a better protein pasta like a chickpea-based pasta OR add on a protein like grilled tofu or white beans.

Learn how to make this creamy purple pepper silken tofu pasta sauce 

This sauce couldn’t be simpler: in simply 5 minutes, you’ll mix up silken tofu and a few pantry staples for a no cook dinner, no chop sauce that may gown a full pound of pasta! Right here’s tips on how to do it:

Step One: collect your components. You’ll want a 12-14 oz package deal of silken tofu, jarred (or leftover) roasted purple peppers, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, thyme, lemon juice, salt, smoked paprika and pepper.

Step Two: throw ALL these components into your blender. You don’t even want a excessive velocity blender for this one! Mix on low till all the things is damaged down, then slowly improve to medium excessive and mix till easy, about 1-2 minutes complete. You would possibly have to scrape it down as soon as.

Step Three: style, regulate salt as wanted. As a result of there may be variation within the flavour of jarred purple peppers, you may regulate to your style. Tasting too acidic? Only a ½ teaspoon of sugar will assist stability it. Want extra umami? Attempt an additional shake of dietary yeast. 

Step 4: toss with sizzling pasta and serve. I discover relying on the form of the pasta, and the way saucy you prefer it, you may need a bit extra sauce than you want. Pour it right into a jar and reserve it within the fridge. It’s nice for once you reheat leftovers, because the sauce dries up a bit. You may as well use it as a dipping sauce.

Extra vegan recipes utilizing silken tofu:

Silken Tofu Pasta Sauce with Roasted Pink Peppers

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Complete Time: 5 minutes minutes

This silken tofu pasta sauce blends up in simply 5 minutes with no chopping and no cooking! Utilizing pantry staples like jarred roasted purple peppers and dietary yeast, it’s a creamy, flavorful, barely smoky sauce that goes so nicely together with your favorite pasta or gnocchi.

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Roasted Pink Pepper Silken Tofu Pasta Sauce

• 12 ounces silken tofu, I’ve used 12-14 oz packs with equal success
• 2 cups jarred roasted purple peppers, drained
• 2 tablespoons dietary yeast
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• freshly cracked pepper

For Serving

• 1 pound package deal of your favorite pasta, cooked in response to package deal instructions, drained

• Place all the sauce components in a blender. Mix on low till peppers break down, then slowly improve velocity to medium excessive and mix till easy, about 1-2 minutes complete.

• Style and regulate salt if wanted. Too acidic? Missing umami? see notes in weblog put up.

• Toss with sizzling pasta and serve.